Collagen is a key component of skin, bones and tendons. But do supplements always have to be of animal origin? Prokollagen takes a different approach: it focuses on the body's own collagen production – without any animal substances. What exactly is behind Prokollagen? We show you how it is defined, what advantages it offers and what you should know about its effects and more
Procollagen is the first draft of our collagen. It is produced in the cells – not yet final, but full of potential. Only through further biochemical steps does it become functional collagen, which structurally supports the skin, bones, tendons and connective tissue.
In the world of micronutrients, however, the term ‘procollagen’ usually means something else: When we talk about procollagen supplements today, we are not usually referring to this intermediate product produced by the body, but rather to a clever approach – not supplying the body with ready-made collagen, but providing it with exactly the building blocks it needs to produce its own collagen – and all without any animal ingredients.
Why pro-collagen at all – when there is also direct collagen? A valid question. At first glance, it seems easier to supply the body with ready-made collagen. But if you take a closer look, you will quickly discover that pro-collagen has advantages:
To understand these terms, let's return to where it all begins: in your cells.
When your body produces collagen type I – the most important collagen for skin, bones, tendons and connective tissue – a precursor is first created: procollagen type I. While this molecule is being processed outside the cell, certain components are split off. One of these is the procollagen I propeptide (P1NP).
This fragment enters the bloodstream, where it can be measured. This is precisely why it plays an important role in medical diagnostics.
Beautiful skin is visible on the outside – but it doesn't end there. Serums and creams nourish the skin's surface, moisturise and give it a glow. However, many active ingredients come up against a natural barrier: the skin's protective layer.
Procollagen powder works in a different way – inside the body. The nutrients it contains are transported via the bloodstream to where collagen is produced, such as the fibroblasts, the collagen-forming cells.
In short:
The two can complement each other perfectly. If you want to strengthen your skin holistically, you should therefore not only think about the surface, but also about what is happening underneath.
Vegan pro-collagen supplements provide the body with the necessary building blocks to synthesise collagen itself. How effective this approach is compared to animal-based collagen supplements depends on several factors, including the individual body's ability to produce collagen.
Studies show that the glycine intake from our daily diet is often insufficient to optimally support collagen synthesis. Targeted supplementation of the relevant amino acids can therefore effectively promote this process. In this way, connective tissue can be supported even without the intake of animal collagen.
Procollagen is more than just a trend – it is a smart approach to supporting your body's own collagen production in a targeted manner. Instead of ready-made collagen, it relies on selected nutritional building blocks and works where it all begins: in your cells.
Completely free of animal ingredients. Instead, it focuses on tolerability and a holistic view of skin, connective tissue, bones and joints – for your conscious self-care routine.
Procollagen is a term with two different meanings: in the body, procollagen is the precursor to the structural protein collagen. In the context of dietary supplements, the term procollagen is often used to refer to finely balanced micronutrient mixtures that provide the body with the necessary building blocks and cofactors for its own collagen production.
An elevated procollagen type 1 level can have various causes. In children and adolescents, it is elevated due to growth. Fracture healing, osteoporosis therapies or vitamin D deficiency can also cause the level to rise. In some cases, there may also be an underlying disease, which is why a medical examination is recommended.
Pro-collagen supports the body's own collagen formation by providing the necessary building blocks for the structure protein collagen in the skin, bones and connective tissue.
We are currently not aware of any studies that directly compare these two variants. Nevertheless, the intake of procollagen is beneficial in that it provides the body not only with the necessary building blocks, but also with the necessary cofactors for the body's own collagen synthesis.
